live-and-festivals
Gent Jazz 2027 Names First 13 Acts, With Kamasi Washington, Thundercat and Gregory Porter
Belgium's Gent Jazz has announced the first 13 acts for its July 1-17, 2027 edition, led by Kamasi Washington and Thundercat on opening night, Gregory Porter on July 6 and Robert Plant on July 10. Tickets go on sale Oct. 30.
Gent Jazz, the summer festival in Ghent, Belgium, has announced the first 13 artists for its 2027 edition, which runs from July 1 to 17. The festival published the names on Oct. 26, and Belgian public broadcaster VRT reported the announcement the same day. Tickets for the announced festival days go on sale on Friday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m. local time.
The opening day, Thursday, July 1, is built around contemporary American jazz and its offshoots. Saxophonist Kamasi Washington and bassist, singer and producer Thundercat, whom the festival describes as two musical childhood friends, share the headline slots. The Scottish artist corto.alto also plays that day, bringing his latest record, SOME SMALL FORTUNE, according to the festival.
The main stage line-up for Sunday, July 4, is already complete. The Belgian National Orchestra will perform music by the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, and Belgian composer and pianist Wim Mertens will appear the same day. The bill also includes L'Antidote, a group that combines Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Balkan traditions, and the Swedish trio Bach Jazz, which arranges the music of Johann Sebastian Bach for jazz trio.
Singer Gregory Porter headlines on Tuesday, July 6. The festival describes him as one of the best-loved voices of his generation, citing his baritone and his mix of jazz, soul and gospel.
On Saturday, July 10, the festival brings former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant to its main stage. Plant will appear with his band Saving Grace on his new tour, Root & Branch, which the festival says explores roots and folk music, with British singer Suzi Dian sharing lead vocals. The same day features the Malian-Berber desert-blues band Tinariwen, the veteran Belgian musician Roland Van Campenhout with his Space Cowboys, and the four-woman ensemble Marshall Gilmour Webbs.
Blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa headlines on Wednesday, July 14. The festival points to his dozens of albums and his record on the Billboard Blues Chart.
The first announcement mixes jazz headliners with artists from rock, blues, classical and world music. The festival has not yet named acts for the remaining days of its 17-day run. In its review of the 2026 edition, its 25th, Gent Jazz reported 96 artists on the bill, 38 of them Belgian, and 65,000 visitors. This year's Gent Jazz Talent competition was won by Matoka, with SLAGADER taking the audience prize.
Tickets for the announced days will be sold through the festival's website, gentjazz.com, from Oct. 30.